EU, Turkey resume membership talks

BRUSSELS, June 26 (UPI) -- The European Union has renewed membership talks in Brussels with Turkey.

Turkish negotiator and Economy Minister Ali Babacan said any French effort to thwart negotiations would be damaging, Deutsche Welle reported.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy opposes Turkish membership in the EU and has said he will veto it if German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's talks with Turkey stray into economic or monetary policy. Steinmeier's talks with Turkey have only involved minor policy areas, Deutsche Welle reported.

Also, Steinmeier said Croatia is "well on the way" to becoming the EU's 28th member, Deutsche reported.